Songs & Strings Tour Journal

Autumn 2002, West Coast
Michael DeLalla & Andrew McKnight

October 31, 2002: Cascade Volcanoes and Ancient Forest Ghosts for Halloween

I must confess, for both of us, that the small turnout in Eugene was the first time that this tour started to feel long, and thoughts turned towards home, still a few days away. However, it is impressive what a sunny autumn morning in the Northwest and a little caffeine can do for the soul on a day off. And the choices of places to go was impressive, to say the least.

The drive up to Eugene yesterday was up and down, side to side, even on the interstate. Today though, we awoke in the flat valleys of the Willamette and other rivers bound for the Columbia. We got blessed big time today; clear cold weather over the entire northwest, a real rarity for this time of year. We wasted no time heading to Mt. Rainier, the most voluptuous of all the Cascade Range volcanoes and spectacular from a hundred miles away all shrouded in rock and ice, looming over 14,000 feet above sea level. The destroyed remains of Mt. St. Helens visible for most of the journey provided an eerie reminder of what volcanoes can do, much like the fiery Mt. Etna is doing in Sicily right now. Powerful stuff. The Volcano Evacuation Route signs on the side of the road were particularly sobering.

I have traveled through the western states quite a bit; 10 years ago my ex-wife Karin and I enjoyed an amazing 18-week odyssey with lengthy visits at almost every western National Park. So even though our time on this tour is short, it is fun to introduce Michael to some of the gems that Karin and I had discovered in our explorations. Today was the rare inland temperate rain forest on the Carbon River, on the northwest edge of Mt. Rainier National Park. Tall, moss covered cedar, spruce and fir so thick that the frost has been accumulating on the forest floor already. The darkness and the ancient old growth were a very cool (like 34 degrees actually, even in the sun!) way to spend Halloween! Some massive rock slides crossing the trail prompted Michael to remark, "this is truly what a falling mountain looks like!". One incredible afternoon to complement our "redwoods to the sea" experience of the day before. Big trees don't come across too well on film, so you'll have to take our word for it or visit yourself!

Andrew